OK, you guys. If you’ve yet to start making your Halloween costume, get on it! Time is running out. There are only two Fridays (including today) until Halloween! Oh, you forgot it was Friday. We understand. But luckily our From Our Friends post will jog your memory. From Our Friends is OA’s weekly blog that features our favorite posts, published by our friends and partners around the web.

This week’s post has a link to an article about an intentional community, an awesome bit of breaking news on women’s health, an uncomfortable piece about increasingly hot summers, a fun post about Halloween crafts, and a great bit of news about LEGO. Also: A link to a vegetarian meatball recipe, and great information about laughing and your health.

1. Do you know what an intentional community is? If not, Free People’s blog about Twin Oaks will give you a beautiful sneak peak.

2. This is so nuts and awesome. Facebook and Apple are paying the bill for female workers who want to freeze their eggs. Via Jezebel.

3. Hold onto your hats, or more appropriately, take them off? Climate Desk reports that summers will soon be boiling hot.

4. Are you hosting a Halloween party for your kids? Here are some fun Halloween Crafts the kids can make. From Crafting a Green World.

5. Way to go, LEGO! The company has ended its partnership with Shell because of arctic drilling. Via EcoSalon.

6. If you’re planning on making some pasta this weekend, add these tasty vegetarian meatballs. From Glow Kitchen.

7. If you want to feel better, all you have to do is laugh. Via HooplaHa.

]]>The 4 Real Risk Factors for Heart Disease You Need to Knowhttp://www.organicauthority.com/the-4-real-risk-factors-for-heart-disease-you-need-to-know/
Mon, 28 Jul 2014 10:00:56 +0000http://www.organicauthority.com/?p=30516Saturated fat and cholesterol have been getting a bad rap for decades – but as it turns out, they’re not the risk factors for heart disease we’ve believed them to be. A recent meta-analysis published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that higher levels of saturated fat consumption actually don’t increase the risk of heart […]

Saturated fat and cholesterol have been getting a bad rap for decades – but as it turns out, they’re not the risk factors for heart disease we’ve believed them to be. A recent meta-analysis published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that higher levels of saturated fat consumption actually don’t increase the risk of heart disease.

In recent years, doctors have been coming full-circle on the whole anti-fat crusade: According to Dr. Larry Kaskel, MD, Lipidologist and Medical Director of Northwestern Wellness Center, who is unaffiliated with the recent study, we’ve been duped into believing that fat is to blame for heart disease. In reality, there’s no hard evidence to back this claim.

“The plaque that builds up on artery walls isn’t caused from eating fat,” Dr. Kaskel said in a statement. “Risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, infections and smoking cause damage to the artery walls. As the body attempts to repair these injured spots, plaque forms. It’s a misnomer that plaque is just fat; it’s a graveyard of dead red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, cholesterol from those dead cells, and numerous different organisms including bacteria and viruses. That’s what is in the plaque – not just fat and cholesterol.”

So if cholesterol’s only at the scene of the crime and isn’t one of the primary risk factors for heart disease… what is? Inflammation in the artery walls. According to Dr. Kaskel, heart disease may actually be an infectious disease where unstable, inflamed plaque scabs are to blame. “Drug companies knew they’d make more money by keeping patients on Statins, so they demonized fat and cholesterol rather than investing in the root of the problem,” said Kaskel.

The Real Risk Factors for Heart Disease

1. Too much sugar
Long story short, sugar is evil. It damages arteries, increases blood pressure and ages your organs. It’s not just about avoiding foods that contain sugar, but foods that turn into sugar once you eat them such as refined carbohydrates.

2. Not enough fat and protein
Kaskel advises eating a balanced diet that includes more fat and protein and less carbs as the best way to stay heart-healthy and avoid diabetes. Replace all that sugar with vegetables and fats, both unsaturated and saturated. Foods like nuts, fish and avocados (unsaturated), and butter, unprocessed meat and coconut oil (saturated).

3. Trans fats
While doctors might not agree on whether you should eat saturated fats, they’ll all agree that trans fats should be avoided at all costs – you know, since they’re practically plastic.

4. Stress
Stress in small doses is healthy, but these days chronic stress has become the status quo – everything is a deadline. When you have a steady stream of cortisol (the stress hormone) running through your body on a perpetual basis, you’re opening yourself up to a scroll of health issues – including heart disease. Reduce stress, reduce inflammation.

We all understand the importance of a morning routine, but no matter how much we enjoy the one we’ve created, there’s always room for improvement. Mine constantly evolves thanks to the strategies below.

Here are 7 ways to guarantee yourself a slump-free morning:

1. Download the HabitClock app

HabitClock is a free iPhone app that helps you accomplish your morning routine with ease. Setup the order of your morning routine, and as soon as your alarm goes off the app gets to work. It’s the perfect partner in crime for combating those especially bad habits you’re struggling to shake.

2. Get a head start

Prepare for your morning routine the night before. Choose what you’re going to wear – right down to the accessories. Lay out your workout gear too if exercise is part of your a.m. pick-me-up. Program your coffee maker to brew at a certain time. Set the book you want to read beside your coffee cup. Take care of the details so things go smoothly the next day.

3. Prep your kitchen

There’s nothing better than a tidy kitchen to start the day. Seriously, who likes waking up to last night’s dinner dishes? You’ll be that much more inclined to make yourself an amazing breakfast or your fave smoothie when you can actually see your counter. Try prepping your food the night before so you can spend less time cooking and more time doing what you love.

4. Choose a soothing alarm tone

When your alarm jolts you awake, it puts your body into an anxiety-stricken state (not cool). Find an alarm sound you can tolerate – particularly, a sound effect that makes you happy. I used to have an alarm clock that sounded like a squealing pig, a la “Gilmore Girls”. I mean, who could get mad at a pig?

5. Don’t do things you don’t want to do

The whole point to getting up earlier isn’t so you can jump right into responsibility mode – it’s so you can take time out to enjoy things you wouldn’t have time for otherwise: Reading an entire chapter of a book interruption-free, writing, completing an intense yoga session. Anything goes, as long as it’s the ultimate “me time” experience.

6. Remain flexible

You don’t want to have an army sergeant approach to your morning routine – you’re more likely to sabotage yourself that way (trust me). Remain open to how you’d like to structure your morning, and consistently tweak it until it’s just right. Forcing yourself to do things because you don’t want to feel like a quitter is counterproductive to your goal. When you drop something from your morning routine, it doesn’t mean you’ve failed – it means you’ve evolved.

7. Seek out inspiration

My Morning Routine is a fairly new blog where people share what their morning routine consists of as a way to inspire others to create and improve their own. If you’re looking to make changes or are in a slump with your a.m. regime, chances are you’ll find a dose of inspiration here.

]]>7 Fitness Tips to Keep Your Heart Healthy and Stronghttp://www.organicauthority.com/7-fitness-tips-to-keep-your-heart-healthy-and-strong
Wed, 26 Feb 2014 08:00:17 +0000http://www.organicauthority.com/?p=27834February is heart month, and as far as I’m concerned there’s no such thing as too many fitness tips – with all of our modern-day conveniences peer-pressuring us to turn into couch potatoes, we have to stay strong and make sure our heart does too. Here are 7 fitness tips to give your heart a […]

February is heart month, and as far as I’m concerned there’s no such thing as too many fitness tips – with all of our modern-day conveniences peer-pressuring us to turn into couch potatoes, we have to stay strong and make sure our heart does too.

Here are 7 fitness tips to give your heart a little love:

1. Rank Your Heart

Since you’re already working heart (get it?) to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle, check out HeartAge.me: It’s an online quiz that helps determine the “age” of your heart, while offering you specific insights on how to improve your routine.

2. Track How Effective Your Workouts Are

A heart rate monitor is helpful in tracking your workouts to make sure your heart’s fully benefiting: You want to make sure you’re working out in your target heart rate zone, which is about 60 to 80 percent of your maximum heart rate. (To calculate yours, subtract your age from 220.) Use the Instant Heart Rate app to measure your heart rate after each workout.

3. Take 10

While on your busiest day you want to strive for a minimum of 30 minutes of physical activity, try out 10-minute walks three times a day instead of going the full 30 in one shot: According to a recent study, 10-minute walks were shown to lower blood pressure more effectively than longer ones.

4. There’s More to Life Than Cardio

When you think “heart health,” the automatic assumption is to scout out fitness tips related to cardio – meanwhile, strength-training (like lifting weights, push-ups and lunges) can be just as beneficial. Strength-training works both your muscular and cardiovascular system, improving your endurance level, and increasing your good cholesterol levels.

5. Workout in Short, Intense Bursts

If you’re an office worker like me, one of the best fitness tips offered to me was to take 4-minute breaks where I run in place or do jumping jacks. High-intensity interval training works great in this instance too, where you alternate between bursts of high- and low-intensity moves. For example, rotating 30 seconds of running in place with 30 seconds of marching.

6. Don’t Just Sit There

This is one of those sneaky fitness tips where it doesn’t seem like it would be super-effective, but I’ll be the first to admit it’s made a huge difference for me: It turns out you can lower your blood pressure while sitting in your desk chair by doing isometric exercises. Isometric movements are where you contract your muscles without moving the body part. For example, flexing your thigh muscles. I couldn’t help but giggle when I first started doing these, but I feel much less sluggish when I’m done work for the day. Shoot for 20-minute sessions of contracting and relaxing.

7. Unplug

Use exercise as your time to break away from your RSS feeds, email and anything tech-related. Because we’re connected 24/7 our natural stress levels are much higher than they should be, which raises blood pressure and your heart rate. If it feels weird at first, turn everything off for 15 minutes at a time until you’re comfortable enough to go through your entire routine sans technology. Then spend that time raising your heart rate in a healthy way.

]]>Stay Happy and Healthy: Know How to Detect Ovarian Cancerhttp://www.organicauthority.com/health/stay-happy-and-healthy-know-how-to-detect-ovarian-cancer.html
Sat, 22 Sep 2012 15:00:00 +0000http://www.organicauthority.com/s5-health/c8-health/stay-happy-and-healthy-know-how-to-detect-ovarian-cancer/OK, ladies. Serious talk: ovarian cancer awareness month (September) is quickly winding to a close. Ovarian cancer is almost completely curable if caught during its early stages (if caught in its earliest stage, the five-year survival rate is more than 93 percent!). But ovarian cancer can be tricky – it doesn’t have many symptoms. Read […]

OK, ladies. Serious talk: ovarian cancer awareness month (September) is quickly winding to a close. Ovarian cancer is almost completely curable if caught during its early stages (if caught in its earliest stage, the five-year survival rate is more than 93 percent!). But ovarian cancer can be tricky – it doesn’t have many symptoms. Read on to learn how to prevent and combat the disease.

What is ovarian cancer?

“Ovarian cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the ovaries. Women have two ovaries, one on each side of the uterus. The ovaries — each about the size of an almond — produce eggs (ova) as well as the hormones estrogen, progesterone and testosterone.” via the Mayo Clinic

According to ovariancancerawareness.org, each year, 22,880 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer symptoms are difficult to detect because they feel similar to other common conditions, such as digestive and bladder problems. Symptoms of ovarian cancer include:

Abdominal pressure

Fullness

Swelling or bloating

Pelvic discomfort or pain

Persistent indigestion

Gas or nausea

Changes in bowel habits and bladder habits

Loss of appetite or quickly feeling full

Increased abdominal girth or clothes fitting tighter around waist

Persistent lack of energy

Low back pain

Causes of ovarian cancer are unclear, but risk factors include:

Inherited gene mutations

Family history of ovarian cancer

Previous cancer diagnosis

Older age

Never having been pregnant

Hormone replacement therapy

Take the following simple precautions to increase the chance of early, ovarian cancer detection:

Give a thorough medical history to your gynecologist.

Disclose any personal and family history of breast, endometrial, or colon cancer, as well as any use of fertility drugs (these may put you at higher risk).

]]>Cambridge Study Finds Major Health Benefits in Decreased Meat Consumptionhttp://www.organicauthority.com/blog/organic/cambridge-study-finds-major-health-benefits-in-decreased-meat-consumption/
Mon, 17 Sep 2012 08:24:35 +0000http://www.organicauthority.com/blog/?p=11239New research coming out of Cambridge University suggests cutting meat consumption in half would lead to significant health benefits including a reduction in the number of cases of heart disease, diabetes and cancer. The study is the most recent to advocate a decrease in meat consumption for both human health and environmental benefits. A recent […]

New research coming out of Cambridge University suggests cutting meat consumption in half would lead to significant health benefits including a reduction in the number of cases of heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

The study is the most recent to advocate a decrease in meat consumption for both human health and environmental benefits. A recent U.S. study found that an 85 gram serving of red meat increased the risks of death related to heart disease by a whopping 18 percent, and death by cancer increased ten percent.

Among the study’s findings, published in the journal BMJ Open, the research team calculated that if men reduced their daily intake of meat from 91 grams to 53 grams, that move alone would result in a 12 percent drop in cases of bowel cancer, a 12 percent decrease in cases of type 2 diabetes and a 10 percent drop in heart disease.

Women, who typically consume less meat than men already, showed slightly fewer, but still significant decreases in the same categories: 8 percent decrease in bowel cancer, 7.5 percent decrease in type 2 diabetes and 6 percent for heart disease.

The research was conducted on British soil, but had it been a U.S. study and the repercussions might have been met with a big backlash from the National Cattlemen’sBeef Association who recently called out the USDA for their promotion of the hugely popular Meatless Monday campaign. When the agency announced its support for Meatless Mondays–which includes both health and environmental implications—the NCBA said the agency’s commitment to U.S. cattle ranchers was “in question.” The agency quickly retracted its statement in support of observing a “meatless” day, saying the statement was issued without proper clearance.

]]>5 Foods Every Healthy Woman Wantshttp://www.organicauthority.com/health/5-foods-every-woman-should-be-eating.html
Mon, 17 Oct 2011 10:27:06 +0000http://www.organicauthority.com/s5-health/c8-health/5-foods-every-woman-should-be-eating/Nutrition is as complex and confusing as the bodies we aim to nurture. No one diet is perfect for everyone, yet certain foods are known to provide a host of benefits for most of us. And as women, we have even more specialized nutritional needs that change throughout our lives: iron, calcium, folic acid, to […]

Nutrition is as complex and confusing as the bodies we aim to nurture. No one diet is perfect for everyone, yet certain foods are known to provide a host of benefits for most of us. And as women, we have even more specialized nutritional needs that change throughout our lives: iron, calcium, folic acid, to name a few. Here’s a list of foods women especially, regardless of age, can be sure to include as part of a healthy, vibrant diet.

Beans

Rich in fiber, protein and folic acid, beans provide a well-balanced variety of critical macro and micronutrients. Void of saturated fats found in meat, beans provide a healthy protein important for muscle function; fiber, important to keep digestion regular; balanced cholesterol levels; and folic acid, a nutrient necessary for healthy pregnancy.

Broccoli

A number of studies have shown broccoli to be a superfood that everyone should be eating daily, but for women especially, broccoli has been shown to decrease estrogen levels, which helps protect against breast cancer. Add the immune-boosting power of the antioxidants and calcium also found in broccoli and you have one more reason to include this versatile food into your diet regularly.

Cranberries

Not just a tasty seasonal berry, the cran is rich in antioxidants and flavanoids that boost memory and reduce free radical damage to brain cells. They’re a healthy snack for pregnant women and cranberries also help reduce and heal urinary tract infections. The vitamin C content can help reduce stress levels and improve mood, too.

Walnuts

The anti-inflammatory and rare antioxidant phytonutrients found in walnuts have been connected with a decreased risk of certain types of cancer—including breast cancer. It also may be one of the best foods for heart health—heart disease is the number one killer of women over age 50.

Apricots

Maintaining iron levels is especially important for women during menstruation, and one delicious, unsuspecting food high in iron is the apricot, especially when dried. The natural sugars found in apricots also boost your blood-glucose levels, which can become depleted as we sleep, making it an excellent addition to breakfast, too.

]]>A Non-Profit that Gets It: Girls + Education = Healthy Familieshttp://www.organicauthority.com/sanctuary/a-non-profit-organization-girl-effect.html
Wed, 17 Aug 2011 21:01:55 +0000http://www.organicauthority.com/s2-sanctuary/c5-sanctuary/a-non-profit-organization-girl-effect/Well, okay. This awesome non-profit isn’t just concerned with the education and empowerment of 600 million adolescent girls who live in developing countries. It’s really focused on the education and empowerment of the communities where these girls live. Yeah – GirlEffect.org’s mission is a big one – like, sit back, take a big breath and mutter to […]

Well, okay. This awesome non-profit isn’t just concerned with the education and empowerment of 600 million adolescent girls who live in developing countries. It’s really focused on the education and empowerment of the communities where these girls live.

Yeah – GirlEffect.org’s mission is a big one – like, sit back, take a big breath and mutter to yourself kind of big – but it’s theory and plan of attack is simple:

“When you improve a girl’s life through education, health, safety, and opportunity, these changes have a ripple effect–– her brothers, sisters, parents, future children, and grandchildren all benefit. As an educated mother, an active, productive citizen and a prepared employee, she has the most influence and is therefore the most efficient and powerful force in her community to break the cycle of poverty. Today, less than two cents of every international development dollar go to girls, the very people who could do the most to end poverty! As long as girls remain invisible, the world misses out on a tremendous opportunity for change.”

When a young woman is given an education, she learns:

about HIV prevention

that she can choose who she wants to marry

that she can make important family planning decisions

See? It’s not such an intimidating concept. And, yeah. The previous information is totally obvious, but in a lot of communities in developing countries, young women are not respected. Lack of respect leaves adolescent women in poverty, causing future generations of families vulnerable, and stuck in the cycle of poverty.

Three Big Years

Since 2008, Girl Effect has spread its theory and other organizations, such as the Nike Foundation, the NoVo Foundation, the United Nations Foundation and the Coalition for Adolescent girls, have recognized the importance of educating and empowering young women. And the non-profit gains more support everyday. Girl Effect is keen on social media and does a stellar job sharing its theory and young women’s stories via Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

]]>Nutrition & Genderhttp://www.organicauthority.com/blog/health/nutrition-gender/
Mon, 28 Aug 2006 16:34:35 +0000http://www.organicauthority.com/blog/?p=234When shopping for organic food, keep in mind that men and women have not been created equal in the nutrition department. The distinctions are subtle, but worthy of careful consideration, reports the September issue of Harvard Men’s Health Watch. Fat Monounsaturated fats are healthful for both men and women, and olive oil is a good […]

]]>When shopping for organic food, keep in mind that men and women have not been created equal in the nutrition department. The distinctions are subtle, but worthy of careful consideration, reports the September issue of Harvard Men’s Health Watch.FatMonounsaturated fats are healthful for both men and women, and olive oil is a good source. So are the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish.

But a vegetable-based omega-3 called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), found in canola and flaxseed oils, may pose a problem for men. ALA is good for the heart, but some studies suggest it may increase the risk of prostate cancer. For men with cardiac risks, ALA may be a good choice—but men with more reason to worry about prostate cancer should get their omega-3s from fish and their vegetable fats from olive oil.

AlcoholIn both men and women, low alcohol intake appears to reduce the risk of heart attacks and certain strokes, while larger amounts increase the risk of many ills. But while drinking responsibly doesn’t seem to cause any health problems for average men, even low doses of alcohol may increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer.

CalciumA high-calcium diet may protect women against osteoporosis. There’s far less evidence that dietary calcium has the same benefit for men. In fact, large amounts may increase their risk of prostate cancer. The solution is moderation. The vitamin D in a daily multivitamin may also help offset the possible risks.

IronMen need less iron than women do and should avoid excess amounts. In the presence of an abnormal gene, excess iron can lead to harmful deposits in various organs.

Despite these points, men’s and women’s overall nutritional needs are more similar than different, Health Watch reports.

]]>Lifestyle and Stroke Riskhttp://www.organicauthority.com/blog/health/lifestyle-and-stroke-risk/
http://www.organicauthority.com/blog/health/lifestyle-and-stroke-risk/#commentsWed, 12 Jul 2006 14:05:46 +0000http://www.organicauthority.com/blog/?p=197The latest research proves, once again, the value of health-aware organic living. According to a report in the July 10 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, women who are nonsmokers, exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet (including moderate alcohol consumption) and otherwise live a healthy lifestyle may have a reduced risk of stroke. About 700,000 Americans […]

]]>The latest research proves, once again, the value of health-aware organic living.

According to a report in the July 10 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, women who are nonsmokers, exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet (including moderate alcohol consumption) and otherwise live a healthy lifestyle may have a reduced risk of stroke.

About 700,000 Americans suffer strokes each year. Approximately 25% are fatal, and another 25% leave patients disabled. Risk factors include smoking, lack of exercise and high body mass index (BMI).

Over a 10-year period, Dr. Tobias Kurth and colleagues at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Harvard School of Public Health studied the association between healthy lifestyles and stroke risk in more than 37,000 women age 45 or older.

At the beginning of the study, the women answered questions about their smoking habits, alcohol consumption, diet, exercise routine and body mass index. Researchers then assigned them a health index score from 0 to 20, with higher scores indicating a healthier lifestyle. Healthy behavior was defined as never smoking, consuming four to 10½ alcoholic drinks per week, exercising four or more times per week, having a BMI less than 22 and maintaining a healthy diet (rich in cereal fiber, folate, omega-3 fatty acids, polyunsaturated vs. saturated and trans fats).

Over the study period, 450 women suffered strokes. The 4.7% who had a health index score of 17 to 20 had a significantly lower risk than those who started with a score of 0 to 4.

“Our findings show the importance of healthy behaviors in the prevention of stroke,” the authors conclude.